Cybersecurity / Computer & Information Systems

Your Career in Cybersecurity Starts at Detroit Mercy

If you love computers and technology, but want to focus on the big picture of how technology is used in business and in protecting the national infrastructure, rather than on coding and programming, University of Detroit Mercy's Computer & Information Systems program has degree options designed with you in mind.

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

As an undergraduate student, you could earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Systems with a major in cybersecurity, select from a range of plans that allow you to go from a bachelor's degree to master's degree in only five years or even opt to minor in cybersecurity as a great adjunct to a different major.

For graduate students, we offer a Master of Science in Information Assurance with a major in cybersecurity and a Master of Science in Computer & Information Systems with a major in software management. Both graduate programs are available online for added convenience and flexibility.

A National Center of Academic Excellence in CyberDefense Education

University of Detroit Mercy is recognized by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for 2016-2021. Having held designation as a Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance from 2004-2016, University of Detroit Mercy has more than a decade of expertise behind each class that drives you as a professional to be the best in your field.

You will receive an outstanding and well-rounded education that will not only teach you the foundations of the field, but also will hone your ability to think critically and analytically, adapt to change and communicate effectively.

Undergraduate Programs

Major - Cybersecurity

In a world of ever-evolving technology, we have never been more connected or more vulnerable. Corporations, governments and even your personal identity are at risk. Presently, there is more demand for cybersecurity professionals than there are qualified people to fill the positions.

Technologies will always change, but once you have the theoretical and applied foundations, you will be positioned to adapt to a lifetime of career opportunities.

Detroit Mercy is one of the nation's academic institutions that pioneered curriculum in cybersecurity more than a decade ago. The University is recognized by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for 2016-2021.

Through Detroit Mercy's undergraduate curriculum, you will take courses that guide you along a journey from understanding the human factors of IT security to the legal world of digital forensics and the many destinations along the way including networks, software assurance, software sustainment and secure database programming.

Your career in cybersecurity starts with your degree at University of Detroit Mercy.

To obtain this undergraduate degree, you must fulfill the requirements of the University core curriculum, the requirements for the 42-credit-hour program major and have completed a minimum of 126 credit hours.

Accelerated 5-Year Bachelor's to Master's Programs

Where could you be in 5 years?

For ambitious, driven and career-minded incoming freshmen, University of Detroit Mercy offers two options to increase your knowledge and skills as a full-time student for 10 semesters (5 academic years) before entering the workforce:

In order to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees in five years, you must:

Be very well prepared as an incoming freshman or transfer student;

Satisfy all the admission criteria (see below); and

Maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA at Detroit Mercy, in order to take graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate.

This program allows incoming freshmen to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees by being a full-time student for 5 academic years (10 consecutive semesters). Juniors at Detroit Mercy and transfer students may be admitted into the program with the permission of the department and Dean’s Office.

Minor - Cybersecurity

University of Detroit Mercy's 18-credit minor in cybersecurity is designed to provide you with a foundation in database, networking and cybersecurity principles. This minor focuses on theoretical principles rather than on specific software or particular network components. Topics covered include network security, software security and information security. This minor is a strong addition to many majors including criminal justice, health information management, nursing, digital media and education.

Graduate Programs

Information Assurance (Cybersecurity)

University of Detroit Mercy's Master of Science in Information Assurance with a major in cybersecurity will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of the field.

You will learn all of the basic cybersecurity principles, technologies and processes and then take seven elective classes tailored to your interests. These elective classes are designed to prepare you to step into specific roles in the cybersecurity workforce and are geared to the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NICE 2.0), which is the commonly accepted definition of the various jobs in this arena.

Our successful graduates work in government, private and corporate settings including the U.S. Department of Defense and major automotive companies.

Computer & Information Systems

University of Detroit Mercy's Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems with a major in software management is an opportunity for you to advance your career and shine as an information technology leader.

The curriculum conveys comprehensive professional knowledge and best practices with regard to IT work. Its content is derived from and fully conforms with recommendations for programs of this type established by the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) and the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It offers the most up-to-date, industry based, knowledge of best practices in IT process development, leadership and program management.

Specific knowledge areas include: IT portfolio and project management, system requirements elicitation and specification, comprehensive program construction concepts, assurance and business alignment processes and information assurance, audit and control. Upon graduation, you will be able to create and oversee productive and continuously improving management control infrastructures for large, complex and diverse businesses.

Accreditation

University of Detroit Mercy received a new designation and recognition by the National Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) for 2016-2021. Having held designation as a Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance (CAE/IA) from 2004-2016, University of Detroit Mercy has more than a decade of expertise in this field. The new recognition positions Detroit Mercy students well to excel in a competitive and growing field that impacts national security.

Meet Our Faculty

Daniel Shoemaker, Ph.D.
Professor, Director of the Master of Science in Information Assurance Program & Principle Investigator for the Center for Academic Excellence Program with the National Security Agency